Eclipse 3 hood-uh oh :(

[Jgisler2006]

Hello, so I am somewhat of a newbie, I have a 29 Gallon aquarium with an eclipse 3 hood

I did not know that this would be a problem in the future but is there any protein skimmers or maybe canister filters that would be compatible in means of extra filtration?

As of now I have:

1 6 line wrasse
1 Orange spotted diamond goby
1 green chromis
1 Ocellaris clown

802 Powerhead
marine land submersible heater
~30 lbs of LR

I am planning on purchasing more LR
but I am concerned with filtration of the aquarium

any help would be muuuchhh appreciated

Thanks,
Jacob

[Jgisler2006]

Once again I know I would have to modify the hood, I have heard of people modifying the hood to fit a CPR bak pak 2 but i have not had any luck figuring out how to do this.

[Chasman]

Jgisler2006

If you search some of the threads I have started and some between member "7digits" I think you can figure out quite a bit and then ask some more questions. 7digits and I both have 29gal tanks. He started out like you with the 29gal eclipse hood setup from Marineland.

In the end I think you will opt to get rid of the hood and upgrade to a system better fit for a marine tank. The lighting and the filter just aren't quite up to the task.

If you can't find those threads, post your questions and I'll help you out. The threads are pretty current. One of them is just below yours and is started by 7digits. The one of mine with the pictures is a page or two in on the "reef aquarium" froum. It's called "30 gal update" or something close.

Chasman

[Chasman]

Jgisler2006

Here are some sideview and overhead shots so you can see what I did with a 29gal. These are some of the same pics from my other thread.

The other threads describe what everything is.

Chasman

[Jgisler2006]

did you totally scrap your hood? ha what kind of lights are those?

[7digits]

Well I'm no expert, but I do have an Eclipse 3 hood. It will be gone this weekend though, and I can't wait. I ran into this same issue. Where do I put a skimmer? There's no room inside the tank, plus who wants a skimmer in their tank anyway. You have 2 options: 1. Cut the hood so it can fit on the back. You have about 4 to 5 inches on each side where the access holes are. You may be able to find a skimmer that will fit there althought it will probably be small. If you are facing the tank, the right side would be the best side to cut. The other side is where the water pump is. It's less likely to leak if you cut the side away from the water pump. It will probably leak eventually anyway whether you cut it or not. 2. If you think you might want to ever put a coral in there you need to go this route. You need to get rid of the hood. Get a light fixture that you can mount on the tank. For fish only it doesn't really need to be much. Then you can add a skimmer. This is the route I would go. I'll try to attach some pics so you can see where it leaked.

Here is what I did: I, with Chasman's advice and because I like the idea of a refugium and more water, got a hob fuge. I got a cheap one for $70 plus shipping from aquatraders.com. It has a built in skimmer just like the cpr aquafuge. Actually it's a clone. It doesn't come with a pump though. So I got a rio 600 like the one that comes with the aquafuge. I got a petco air pump that has 2 outputs, and a dial to adjust how much air it puts out, and hooked it to the output of the rio. I get tons of bubbles, and I can control it. I'm pretty satisfied with my budget fuge and skimmer. I had to cut the hood on the right and left sides and 2 times in the middle for the fuge mounts. It wouldn't fit, so I had to hack into the water trough of the eclipse hood. I then patched up those leaks with marine epoxy. I thought I was done, but it wasn't level and it leaked out the back. So I had to cut the 1/2" thick acrylic mount so the hood would be level. I used a soldering iron with a razorblade tip, and it took about 3 hours to cut out a 3/4" triangle. Now it was level, but it still leaked. I thought about retrofiting the hood, but since it still leaks, it has to go. I got a sweet deal on a light, thank you Chasman! And when I get a day off work this weekend, the hood will be history. I got a eheim canister filter, mainly for carbon and a little more flow. And I have a Koralia 2 on the way to my place. One more word of advice, ditch the biowheel before it becomes a nitrate factory.

In the pics you can see the white salt from where it leaked down the back of the tank.

[Jgisler2006]

Well I'm no expert, but I do have an Eclipse 3 hood. It will be gone this weekend though, and I can't wait. I ran into this same issue. Where do I put a skimmer? There's no room inside the tank, plus who wants a skimmer in their tank anyway. You have 2 options: 1. Cut the hood so it can fit on the back. You have about 4 to 5 inches on each side where the access holes are. You may be able to find a skimmer that will fit there althought it will probably be small. If you are facing the tank, the right side would be the best side to cut. The other side is where the water pump is. It's less likely to leak if you cut the side away from the water pump. It will probably leak eventually anyway whether you cut it or not. 2. If you think you might want to ever put a coral in there you need to go this route. You need to get rid of the hood. Get a light fixture that you can mount on the tank. For fish only it doesn't really need to be much. Then you can add a skimmer. This is the route I would go. I'll try to attach some pics so you can see where it leaked.

Here is what I did: I, with Chasman's advice and because I like the idea of a refugium and more water, got a hob fuge. I got a cheap one for $70 plus shipping from aquatraders.com. It has a built in skimmer just like the cpr aquafuge. Actually it's a clone. It doesn't come with a pump though. So I got a rio 600 like the one that comes with the aquafuge. I got a petco air pump that has 2 outputs, and a dial to adjust how much air it puts out, and hooked it to the output of the rio. I get tons of bubbles, and I can control it. I'm pretty satisfied with my budget fuge and skimmer. I had to cut the hood on the right and left sides and 2 times in the middle for the fuge mounts. It wouldn't fit, so I had to hack into the water trough of the eclipse hood. I then patched up those leaks with marine epoxy. I thought I was done, but it wasn't level and it leaked out the back. So I had to cut the 1/2" thick acrylic mount so the hood would be level. I used a soldering iron with a razorblade tip, and it took about 3 hours to cut out a 3/4" triangle. Now it was level, but it still leaked. I thought about retrofiting the hood, but since it still leaks, it has to go. I got a sweet deal on a light, thank you Chasman! And when I get a day off work this weekend, the hood will be history. I got a eheim canister filter, mainly for carbon and a little more flow. And I have a Koralia 2 on the way to my place. One more word of advice, ditch the biowheel before it becomes a nitrate factory.

In the pics you can see the white salt from where it leaked down the back of the tank.

Wow, thats alot of work haha

I think im just going to look for a smaller skimmer, maybe the in tank bio-cube skimmer. Just for a little help ha, or I may just cut the side of the hood with a dremel and add a prizm skimmer. The hood hasnt leaked water yet? your saying it will eventually no matter what? that sucks ha.

[7digits]

From what I've read in reviews, the rubber piece that is on the pump that goes into the water trough gets old and leaks water. It then travels out the back of the tank. I used to like the hood. About 6 weeks after I got it one of the lights burned out, and I thought I would put some retrofit lights in there, but then I started noticing the leaks. I'm done with this hood.

[Jgisler2006]

From what I've read in reviews, the rubber piece that is on the pump that goes into the water trough gets old and leaks water. It then travels out the back of the tank. I used to like the hood. About 6 weeks after I got it one of the lights burned out, and I thought I would put some retrofit lights in there, but then I started noticing the leaks. I'm done with this hood.

Unfortunately I dont have the money to scrap the hood, but i figure eventually i will.
For now i'm just going to buy an in-tank skimmer, as I am still fairly new to this hobby, and am just looking for more filtration, everyone talks down on the Bio-Cube skimmers, but its small and an intank one, so I think im going to get one, cant make my water quality any worse right?

[7digits]

There's better low priced options out there. I say keep looking for nano skimmers. And don't buy fish at petco. I've seen their acclaimation process. All they do is float the bag. I saw a couple that I had thought about. I just have to remember what they were.

[Jgisler2006]

There's better low priced options out there. I say keep looking for nano skimmers. And don't buy fish at petco. I've seen their acclaimation process. All they do is float the bag. I saw a couple that I had thought about. I just have to remember what they were.

any recommendations for nano skimmers anyone?

[7digits]

Here's a couple that I was looking at:

This one is probably your best bet. It is really small, and uses a venturi pump instead of an airstone. Airstones get clogged too easy with protein skimmers. This one is the Current USA Fission NanoSkimmer.

Current USA Fission NanoSkimmer w/ Pump 2W x 8.5H - Fish.com

Here are some more:

AquaEuroUSA Nano Protein Skimmer 1 w/ Needle Wheel Pump

JBJ 28 Gallon Nano Cube Protein Skimmer Kit

The first one is probably the best. Hope this helps.